‘Generational employment’: Bruce C Nuclear Project to create 18,900 jobs

Ontario has approved early work on the Bruce C Nuclear Project that is expected to create 18,900 jobs during construction and 6,700 once the facility is operational.

The Ontario government has directed the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to enter into a cost-sharing and recovery agreement with Bruce Power to advance predevelopment work on Bruce C, the first large-scale nuclear build in Ontario in more than 30 years. The agreement covers First Nations and community engagement, workforce planning, and pre-construction and site preparation activities, which the province says will cost $300 million and are expected to be completed by 2030.

The proposed new station – to be built at Bruce Power’s existing site on Lake Huron – would add up to 4,800 megawatts of nuclear capacity to the grid. According to the Ontario government, the project will provide enough power for 4.8 million homes, inject an estimated $238 billion into Canada’s GDP and support the 18,900 construction jobs and 6,700 operational roles over its life.

In 2024, the Ontario government announced the completion of phase one of preparation for Ontario’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) – the first in G7 – at Darlington, England.

‘Generational’ employment and growth

Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce called the project a long-term jobs engine, saying “the Bruce C project will advance generational employment creating 18,900 net-new jobs per year, transforming Bruce Power into the world’s largest nuclear generating facility.” He added that the government is “leading the largest nuclear expansion on the continent that will help put 150,000 Canadians to work.”

The province is positioning Bruce C as a key part of its integrated energy plan, Energy for Generations, which is intended to keep electricity reliable and affordable as demand rises. Ontario projects electricity demand could grow by up to 90 per cent by 2050 as new housing, advanced manufacturing and electrification drive higher consumption.

Nuclear power already supplies about 50% of Ontario’s electricity, and the government says this has “positioned Ontario as one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world.” Bruce C will add to other major nuclear initiatives, including the Darlington refurbishment, the Bruce Power Life Extension programme, new nuclear generation at Wesleyville, the construction of small modular reactors at Darlington and the refurbishment of Pickering.

Late in 2025, the Ontario government approved Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) plan to refurbish four CANDU nuclear reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, which will support thousands of jobs. The refurbishment is expected to create roughly 30,500 jobs during construction and sustain 6,700 jobs throughout the station's operation. With a final budget of $26.8 billion, more than 90 per cent of project costs will be spent in Canada.

Indigenous engagement and local workforce

Ontario and Bruce Power are also highlighting Indigenous and local participation in the project. The government said the two parties are “committed to continued cooperation and engagement with both Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation communities (collectively the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON))” on energy planning and future projects on their traditional territory.

The predevelopment agreement will provide capacity funding to support engagement with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and with communities in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties. Municipal leaders in the region have welcomed the announcement, citing opportunities for jobs, innovation and long-term economic stability linked to the project.

“Today's support for pre-development work on the Bruce C Project is a critical step in ensuring Ontario has the reliable, affordable and carbon‑free electricity it needs for generations to come,” said Eric Chassard, President and CEO of Bruce Power. “We are taking important next steps to advance early development work while continuing meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, local municipalities and our supply chain and labour partners.

The Ontario government noted that Bruce Power currently operates two generating stations, Bruce A and B, with eight reactors supported by a “highly skilled workforce and robust domestic supply chain,” and that 95 per cent of Bruce Power’s spending remains in Canada. It also said Ontario’s nuclear industry supports around 80,000 good-paying jobs across the province, reinforcing the importance for HR professionals of planning for a tighter, more competitive talent market as Bruce C advances.

Here are some nuclear industry job numbers across Canada in the previous years, according to a study by MZ Consulting Inc., commissioned by the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI):